The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-22
The Standard Oil Company Gets Control
of the City's Nearest Gas Wells,
And Will, 1t Is Understood. Run Pipes from
NOblesville to Supply indianapolis
with Cheaper Fuel and Light.
The Local Prospectors Decide to Begin
Drilling Wells Further North.
The Certainty of the City's Getting the Much
Desired Gas Begins to Have Noticeable
Effect on the Real Estate Market.


city yesterday that the Standard Oil Company
had purchased the Wainwright we'll at MOBILES
ville the talk about pipeline supply of gas for
this city took precedence of predictions regard
ing the experiments nearer home. The rumors
were not so plentiful as speculation. but In the
midst of it all everybody had the same opinion
to the certainty of Indianapolis having gas
within few weeks. This is given upon the
statement of experienced observers. but last
night, when reference was made in a group
of gentlemen to the Standard Oil purchase, one
of them said: sit was virtually. the Standard
company that drilled the WE'LL and the manner
it secured lease of the Wainwright farm for
prospecting purposes has an interesting story
connected with it. A few Noblesville men, and
among them farmer two, were in store
talking about gas developments. 1t was about
the time the first we'll showed signs of life. One
of the party, whose hatred of monopoes
greater than his judgment, remarked that he
did not want foreign capital TO
come to Noblesville We can get
along without it, he remarked. 4 know
the Standard Oil Company is leasing everything
it can, but our folks can get enough money at
home, or very near it. tell you don't want
foreign capital to come in here One of the
party was Major Wainwright. He was more
liberal in his views. and said: L don't feel that
way. If anybody who has the money thinks he
can find gas on my farm he is at liberty to do so
on easy terms An interested listener of this
conversation was VIM. Fleming who has charge
of the gas and fuel department of
the Standard Company. This group of Mobiles
vile people did not recognize him, nor did Major
Wainwright, when Mr. Fleming called on him
the next day. The representative of the alb
horred company concealed his identity, except
as to his name, means and wish to lease the
Wainwright farm They quickly came to terms,
and just as soon as the derrick and machinery
could be put up the drilling on the Wainwright
lands began. The lease is for five years. and
and the farmer gets $50 per we'll
and all his fuel without cost. He
says he is satisfied with the deal
for the value of other lands held by him in that
neighborhood has been greatly advanced. So
foreign capital slipped into the Noblesvie region
and secured the most profitable we'll before any
one could realize the presence of the Standard
Oil Company except in what it had done before
in securing leases of land that have not as yet
yielded gas"
Mr.. Fleming was in Indianapolis yesterday,
but what ne accomplished is not known. 1t is
known, though, that ne nau In view the gatner-
ing of information respecting the aid of certain
moneyed citizens in piping gas to the city. The
Standard company, of course, can do it alone,
and look upon the investment as a trifie but, as
it always moves Understandings, it was no
doubt thought best to measure the purposes of
the local prospecting companies. Nothing def
mite was reached. but the developments of the
next few DAYS are expected to be OF decidedly
interesting character.
1t is probable that u large local company will
be organized with the purpose of drilling in
every part of Marion county whore there may be
q promise of gas. At the same time it will have
the pipeline enterprise in good care. 1t will not
expect to encroach the Noblesville field. for
that is now regarded as virtually under the con-
troll of the Standard Oil Company but there is
section of Hamilton county, several miles west
of the Wainwright farm, that is to be explored.
The Standard company is supposed to have
leases in this particular section, but there Is a
large portion that is held by the Indianapolis
Natural-gas and Oil Company. The Bridgeport
we'll of this company Is not looked upon as
to give out gas. Last evening the drill had gone
1910 feet without sign of Trenton rock. THAT
we'll is an enigma" said one of the company.
I'VE we're certain Wednesday evening that the
rock would be reached to-day, but all day the
drill went through shale and the Trenton
stratum seemed to be as far away as ever" A
trace of oil was detected there yesterday, but so
little confidence do the directors feel in the re-
suit that they have decided, when they are
satisfied the drill has failed, to move
the machinery to Westield. Drilling by the
company is going on there, out it is pro-
poeed to make this the center of further opera
tions. 1t is to be done on the theory that the
gas rock in that section crosses the State at an
angle of about fifty degrees and passes just
west of Westfield after going through the Vain
wright farm 1t is argued that gas at or near
this village will be from three to five miles
the city for piping The Indianapolis company
has about 1000 acres in that ortion
of Hamilton county in which to prospect A
circle with Westfeld as the center will touch the
Nf tx,r
Traders Point Nora and Wellington objects of
attention from the prospectors. If gas is discov-
cred at Westfeld the pipes will probably come
into continuation Of Illinois street on what is
known the Westfeld pike
The first step of an important movement was
made last night in conference of gentlemen in
terested in the various local prospecting COM
panies. They guarded their deliberations with
the utmost secrecy, but the question is known to
be how to direct local capital to eonteract
any monopoly that the Standard Oil Company
may possibly secure No decision was made
upon any one plan. except to conduct the pros
pectng in the several parts of Marion county as
it is now, with the hope of getting gas nearer
than Hamilton county. But the latter is sure as
the prospectors so regard it.
Real estate is ready to make q speculative ad
vance. Conservative people talk so as to keeI
1t back. but there are men who say that re-
markable period of prosperity is to come TO the
city. You may look for advance of % pei
cent. within the next thirty days. said a rea
estate man. IA resident of Wichita was here
tew days ago, and left $50 600 for investment
l can hear nothing but gas and rea
estate on the street" There is another
feature that has appeared under the gas talk
Three farmers sold their property near Muncie
few days ago, and came here yesterday to inyes
it in real estate A Kokomo citizen quadruplec
his money on piece of town property and cam,
here to buy lots. Eastern money is at hand t.
go into Indianapolis real estate the moment it il
definitely settled that the city will have natura
gas.
Progress at Other Points.
AT NoBLEsyILLE.
epecial to the INDIANAPOLIS journal.
NoBLEsvILLE, April 2l.-To-day has been tn